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contents 5 Editorial Pastor Dr. John K. Mathew

6 “I AM that I AM”

Pastor Jose K. George

14 El-Olam : The Everlasting God Bro. Ajeesh George

17 DO NOT SWEAR Saju Mathew

20 9 Celebrating a life lived in Christ - Pastor T. C. Easow Mrs. Starla Luke

I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me Pastor K. P. Mathew

22 HALLOWED BE THY NAME

Pastor P. T. Thomas

10 El Elyon - God Most High

Rev. Thomas Cherian

25 news

26 quiz

Vol. 09 Issue No. 5

May 2016

A magazine that will enrich and renew your spiritual life and give Christian perspective on current events. e-mail : revivemegod@gmail.com igotoibc@gmail.com visit us : www.revivemegod.org CHAIRMAN PASTOR T. S. ABRAHAM VICE-CHAIRMAN PASTOR Dr.T. VALSON ABRAHAM MEMBERS BRO. JACOB THOMAS PASTOR DR. JOHN K. MATHEW EDITOR PASTOR SAJU JOSEPH ASSOCIATE EDITOR MRS. STARLA LUKOSE MANAGER PASTOR T.J. ABRAHAM CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PASTOR T.C. KOSHY PASTOR RAJAN J. ASHER pastor P. T. THOMAS PUBLISHER, PRINTER & OWNER MAJOR V. I. LUKOSE (Retired) HEBRON, KUMBANAD, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA. PRINTED AT VIANI PRINTINGS, LISSIE JN., ERNAKULAM, KERALA PLACE OF PUBLICATION KUMBANAD, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA - 689 547 DESIGN www.beamdesigns2dio.com Ph: 0481-2563554 beamfine@gmail.com POSTAL ADDRESS P.O. BOX. 31, HEBRON, KUMBANAD KERALA, INDIA, PIN - 689 547 Phone: 0469 - 2664075, 2665855 Mobile: 94476 08954

The views and ideas expressed in each article are those of the writer. - Editor Pictures Courtesy : Google

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Letters

emphasised the ministry of Counseling. He quoted Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They don’t find it among Christians, because Christians are talking when they should be listening. He who no longer listens to his brother will soon no longer be listening to God either” - a true statement in the case of many Christians, including me. Let’s understand the importance of listening and its influence. May God help all the readers of revive to be good listeners – listen to God and fellow human beings.

Bobby Jacob, Coimbatore

The coals of the gospels

The Influence of Christians Dear Editor, The article of Rev. Dr. T. Valson Abraham is one which opens the minds and hearts of all Christians in India. Though we are a minority, if we stand for the truth without fear, we can influence our nation positively and for Christ. The writer truly points out that Christians have influenced society in the dark days. In many ways, they have helped to reduce illiteracy, increase freedom, free slaves from addictions, helped children, increase scientific knowledge and invent new devices to improve life. Persecuted Christians held civilization together after the Roman Empire deteriorated and collapsed. He quotes Robert Belair of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University, “The quality of a whole culture may be changed when 2% of its people have a new vision.” Today, Christians in India make up more than 2% of the population. How many of us have the kind of vision that will influence our culture and society for Jesus Christ? This is a question to all Christians in India. Can I answer it?

Jayan Thomas, Mumbai

The influence of Listening

Dear revive, I see counseling from a new perspective after having read the recent issue of revive.

All articles gave a very clear outlook on the importance of the influence of the Christian Ministry. The article of Pastor Saju Joseph

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Dear Editor, I like the imagery used by Pr. Dennis Gallaher in his article. Its a very appropriate and relevant one. The imagery of ‘the coals of gospel which can be stirred for a revival’ is indeed very inspiring.

Revival is God’s idea, not man’s. At any given time, God can stir the coals of the gospel and revival fires can sweep over a land. The wonderful thing is that God always uses men and women to be the vessels of His grace. He chooses to use His church to be the vehicle of revival.

What is most needed today are those in the church who desire to deeply influence India with the gospel because there is no greater influence in a nation than those who plant the church of Jesus Christ in unreached and barren places. This article not only gives us hope for a revival but also motivates us to be the pieces of coal that will spark the flame and keep the fire going.

Moncy Joseph, Salem

Transforming influence

Dear revive, You brought out well the influence of Christianity through all the articles in the last issue of revive. Dr. John Alex in his article focuses on the Sermon on the Mount to prove the influence of Christians. He explains well the influence of consumerism and intolerance. It is true that in a consumerist society of laxity and excess, the Christian is a model of right living as ‘salt and light of the world’.

Likewise in the world of hostility we are called to be peacemakers. We are transformed to transform the world. The

ultimate aim of Christian influence is to glorify the Father in heaven. These are the principles we as Christians have to hold on to. If so, we can influence the world, the people around us. May God enable us to really influence our nation.

Heartly Sam, Dubai

The uncompelled hour Dear Editor, The influence of a Christian happens out of one’s strong conviction and this fact is established through the writing of Rev. Phinni Joseph. The belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was established in the world through the people of Israel.

It was Joseph who was instrumental in bringing the people of Israel as a nation.

It was he who made them settle in Egypt.

It happened because of Joseph’s strong conviction to obey God even when he had no parents to compel him. He could have sinned when he faced the hour of temptation to sin in his life. There he was strong in the conviction of his faith in the Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It made a huge influence. Let this be a strong lesson for all professing Christians. If we waver in our faith, we cannot influence anyone around us. Are we ready to travel the second mile or at the uncompelled hour in our public life and private life?

Thomas John, Jaipur

Market place Evangelism

Dear revive, The idea of market place evangelism in the article of Dr. J. N. Manokaran is indeed timely and encouraging to the readers. There are people who think that evangelism is possible only by those who are in the full time ministry. Yes, we do need more full time ministers, but, we must realise that we live at a time when don’t get much opportunity for open air meetings.

It is here that personal evangelism is very effective. Christians who are in secular jobs can easily witness Christ to their fellow workers through their Christlike life and sharing of the Gospel. May each reader of this magazine commit himself/ herself to serve as an evangelist in the market.

Blesson Jacob, Bangalore

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Jehova-Shalom, Jehovah-Raah, Jehova-Saboath and JehovahShammah.

Pastor Dr. John K. Mathew

Wdefines e b s"name" ter

as a word or phrase by which a person, thing or class of things is spoken of, known by or called.

The Hebrews thought of names as being revelatory, as disclosing some attribute that was characteristic of the person named. For instance, the name Adam means, 'of the earth' or' taken out of the red earth'. His name revealed his origin. A number of names for god are found in the scriptures. It could be just one name or a multiplicity of names that can reveal all his attributes. But we need only to know God's attributes to the extent that he is pleased to reveal them, and those that pertain to the relationship we have with him.

The name ‘Elohim’ is the first word used in the scripture to designate God. The Hebrew word 'Elohim' grammatically is a plural word used in singular sense. The verbs and pronouns used with 'Elohim' should be in the plural, when Elohim refers to the Lord God, the verbs and pronouns are in the singular.

There are several compound names used with Elohim - El-Shaddai, El -Elyon, El- Roi, El-Olam and so on. They all represent different attributes of ‘Elohim’.

Rabbi Simeon ben Joachi commenting on the word Elohim: 'Come and see the mystery of the word Elohim; there are three degrees, and each degree by itself alone, and yet notwithstanding they are all one, and joined together in one, and are not divided from each other". (David Guzik, Verse by Verse Commentary: Genesis).

Jehovah is the personal name of God in his relationship as redeemer. Exodus 3:13-15 reads: "Moses said to God, suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you and they ask me, What is his name? then what shall I tell them? God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. This is what you have to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. God said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, THE LORD, The God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you." This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation." Since Jehovah is the covenant name of God expressing personal relationship, it is natural that his name would be compounded with other terms that identify and make specific those relationships.

In the Old Testament, there are nine names compounded with the name of Jehovah.

Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Jehovah-Elohim, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehova-Rapha, Jehovah-Nissi,

Each of this is a revelation of the character and nature of God. Larry Lea, in his book, 'Could You Not Tarry One Hour?' suggests,that the nine compound names of God in the Old Testament also correspond to the five-fold promise God makes to his people in the new covenant or the New Testament. While God's name reveal different dimensions of his character they also point to their fulfilment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

What are the five promises or benefits in the New Covenant with which the nine compound names of God correspond? He begins each with an 'S':

Jehovah

is the personal name of God in his relationship as redeemer.

1. Sin - forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin's dominion; 2, Spirit - the fullness of the Holy Spirit 3. Soundness - the promise of health and healing 4. Success - freedom from the law's curse of failure and insufficiency 5. Security - freedom from the fear of death and hell It is our responsibility to appropriate the names of God and the character it represents through Jesus Christ in our life. may 2016

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Pastor Jose K. George, USA Bible Teacher, Pastor

Call Narrative The revelation of the name of God occurs in the context of the call of Moses. The call narratives of great ministers are given concerning Joshua (Josh 1), Gideon (Jud 6), Samuel (1 Sam 3), Isaiah (Isa 6), Jeremiah (Jer 1), and Ezekiel (Ezk 1-3). In the call narratives God initiates the contact. Moses is not in search of God; other ministers too heard the call while in their business.

In every

area of revelation, there is an aspect of clarification and mysteriousness.

The God of the Bible is a God who reveals and hides. The name Yehovah is also such a revelation.

There are certain things clarified concerning Yehovah but certain aspects remain a mystery.

The Name of the Lord

“I AM that I AM” Ex. 3:14

They are all humble, inadequate and reluctant to take up the call; so need signs. They struggle with their call. Salvation comes from the Lord and the ministers are in the final analysis, irrelevant. God is greater than their inadequacies or talent or experience. God meets us where we are. In the NT, the carpenter's Son is not prestigious. No obstinate objection from Jesus, but makes cries and prayers to the Father.

Definition, is not a proper terminology in relation to the revelation. Moses could not define the revelation neither to fellow Israelites nor to Pharaoh. In every area of revelation, there is an aspect of clarification and mysteriousness. The God of the Bible is a God who reveals and hides. The name Yehovah is also such a revelation. There are certain things clarified concerning Yehovah but certain aspects remain a mystery.

There is mystery in Sinai revelation, resurrection, eschatology, and all through the Bible. God hides His appearance with cloud but the cloud itself is a revelation. Things revealed is for our blessing and we receive it with all eagerness. Things hidden is to humble us before the Almighty. There is a lot of mystery in relation to one of the greatest sufferers, Job; not much mystery to simple sufferers.

The Holy Fire Theologians understand Angel of Yehovah in OT as manifestation of Christ incarnate. Here the bush is not consumed-fire’s natural property is temporarily

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suspended. We should respect the mystery that neither we nor the writer himself can fully explain. It is worth noting that Moses is not told to stop advancing until he removes his sandals, for a command to come closer is never given. Stay where you arenot another step. In Joshua 5:15, through a divine encounter, a leader is commissioned to battle against those forces that oppose God’s people. Each minister has a battle of deliverance in the ministry.

It is not ordinary fire. It is the fire of holiness. Fire of God will not consume His people (Dan 3; Is 43:2). These are the first words of God on holiness, to Moses. At the identity of God in v 6, Moses appropriately hides his face, very much afraid to look, where he casually went earlier. What began as curiosity in v 3 becomes fear and reverence. Moses is getting a serious course on holiness. In v 3 Moses turned to see, but when he heard the voice of Yehovah, he did not turn his face but hid his face in fear. When we stand in the holy ground, we cannot turn, but we hid our face. We say today we preach hiding behind the shadow of the cross. We are not people who make a show in the Presence of God, rather hide our face.

The I Am The name of Yehovah is one of the most important revelations in OT. The name reveals that I have a God who is in control of the past present and future. The name Yehovah shows no tense, no time, no beginning no end. No space limitation to Yehovah in Egypt or Canaan or wilderness, unlike the pagan deities restricted to a people and their land. He is without limit and we use His name for all our needs. Other names of God are connected to the attributes of God, while Yehovah is the name.

When Yehovah appeared to Moses, God speaks in the first person, I am the God of your fathers v 6; I have seen the depth of affliction v 7; I know their sorrows v 7; I came down to deliver v 8; I have seen the oppression v 9; I will send you to Pharaoh v 10. After speaking all these authoritative words of God in the first person, Moses asks, “Who am I, that I should go… that I should bring….” V 11. Then comes the answer of God “I will be (hayah) with you” v 12. This is the verbal form of Yehovah, the noun form. It was at the identity crisis of Moses that Yehovah reveals His identity. The question of Moses is not significant-Who am I, because ‘I am that I am” will be with you. Yehovah came down to deliver. “Thus you shall say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me” v. 14. It is the most decisive act of God in history and revelation in relation to Exodus.

When revelation came to Ezekiel, son of Buzi, a whirl of animals, wheels, and wings and only at the end he dare say, in cautiously guarded terms, that it was something which had the appearance of an image of the majesty of Yehovah. The prophet is almost terrified, to say it has the appearance of a man. In self-correction, he thus repeats the whole statement, referring it to glory (Kebod), the royal plenitude of power, is substituted for the person (Ezk 1). Prophet Daniel simply says, “The Ancient of Days” (Dan 7).

When the servants of God struggle in the ministry of deliverance, they struggle with their identity. But the identity is always with the “I am that I am”. Our identity is in the One who called us. Thus apostle Paul speaks, “It is no longer I”. The focus ought to be on Who is He, never “Who am I”. Here is the ultimate revelation. A new revelation that shook the greatest empire of the then world. The Word is powerful and mightier against golden sceptres of empires.

The strong resolution of the prophets and the hymnic fervor of poets of the Bible have their origin in the encounter with the personal will of Yehovah. The feeling of the responsibility of the man whom God has addressed, who understood the will of God, becomes an unbearable burden within him. When the Psalmist seeks mystery of divine existence 139:6, he comes up against a wonder, makes him anxious, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit?”. It is not a desire to run away but the awful presence being felt everywhere amazingly.

The name

of Yehovah is one of the most important revelations in OT. The name reveals that I have a God who is in control of the past present and future. The name Yehovah shows no tense, no time, no beginning no end.

No space limitation to Yehovah in Egypt or Canaan or wilderness, unlike the pagan deities restricted to a people and their land. He is without limit and we use His name for all our needs.

Yehovah is my name (Is 42:8); others are titles. Hebrew has no “J” sound. Jehovah is Latinized transliteration of the Hebrew. It is not crucial for faith to pronounce correctly where the language had no vowels. Vowel signs in Hebrew language are a post-Christian development.

The attitude and quality of the speaker is important. The third commandment, “Thou shall not take the name of Yehovah your God in vain”. The name of God has awe in pronouncing it. The name is His nature; the essence of personality and power.

OT faith is based on historical experience and the name Yehovah is connected to deliverance.

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of specific experiences of God. Yehovah is exclusively the name, while other terms are not names as such. Yehovah is revelation at the historic deliverance at a concrete situation. It is God’s own declaration and His prophets proclaim with authority, “Thus says Yahweh”. It is a religion not connected to the neighboring religions but a new beginning of religious experience. Men of God at other revelatory experiences, met God in a unique way and perceive and bow down. But Moses still doubts. Simple revelation has a simple consequence; complex ones have far reaching consequences. At the cross Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. It took time for humanity to understand some aspects of the cross.

This name is not connected to Moses’ experience of God but the name comes from the mouth of Yahweh Himself (Ex 3:14).

There never existed this name in the history in any nation. This is the beginning of a great series of revelations through prophet Moses. Yehovah occurs 5321 times in the OT. The reading of the name is obscure as the vowels are given differently, because the name was not pronounced by the people of Israel. The most common form is Yehovah. Yehovah is a noun and the meaning of Hebrew words derived from the root form in the verb, which is hayah, meaning “To Be”, “he who is”, “being in person”; “I am who I am”; “I will be who I will be”; “I create what I create”. All this seems to be preparatory, but real name is “I AM”; I AM has sent me to you. God reveals to Moses, “I am Yahweh, the I AM, the God of your fathers. “Yehovah is one” means that in Yehovah everything that He is absolutely exhaustively and exclusively present (Dt 5:1. Is 45:6).

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The Mission Mission comes from a holy ground. It is a combination of vision which leads to mission, the mission associated with a revelation and finally from revelation to the commission. They are all firsthand experiences and events. It is not coming to the burning bush to fill curiosity. That is so common today. It is rather receiving the burden, entering into fire, in the holy ground. It is not enjoying the flame, standing afar. It is being in fire. It happens in the wilderness as John the Baptist and Jesus, both in the wilderness, receiving revelation, vision, mission and commission.

Pharaoh will not yield to persuasion, only a mighty hand will deliver. Yehovah, the man of war (Ex 15:3) does not fight for fighting sake. He fights for the triumph of His resolve to give to His people, which bears and is pledged to the name “God fights”, an inheritance, the necessities of life, and happiness. When He is not feared He is a jealous God. In man, jealousy is wounded love (Pr 14:30). The jealous and avenging God is thus venerable in soul (Na 1:2; Ps 94:1). Yehovah wills to be loved by those whom He loves and they see beauty with the name of Yehovah, “One thing have I desired of Yehovah, … to behold the beauty of Yehovah….” Ps 27:4). Yehovah is the name to be honored, feared but also the name with its bliss.

Conclusion Yehovah sees oppression, He heard it, and He felt it emotionally and comes down to deliver. I saw their affliction… I heard their cry… I know their sorrows (Ex 3:7).

Yehovah is well aware of the situation and will act. God came down to bring them up.

Cry has reached high to heaven. One expects Yehovah to say, I will go to Pharaoh and give my people a decisive victory. But this verse throws all on Moses’ lap. Thus Moses questions God’s wisdom 5 times in the next chapter. Yehovah is angry with Moses and makes certain adjustments. The I AM with Moses is not yet convincing to Moses.

Moses says, I cannot do this. Yehovah says, you are not, I am doing it. In Exodus God is not fulfilling the defeated hopes of Moses or ease the burden of slaves; He is going to establish a people for Himself. There are certain aspects of our life that is certain and clear to us. There are some aspects of life that is uncertain, and we often feel the uncertainty of it; but the answer is “I will be what I will be”.

Churches are burned, Bibles are burned in almost all lands, but the Word of the Lord is not burned, rather burns the heart of humanity. The bush is set on fire, but fire for its benefit.

The great glory of our work is that God comes into it and reveals His glory.

Unfortunately Israel did not make use of the name. It is the church that made of the mighty name in the world.

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Mrs. Starla Luke Vice-President (Admin).

Doctrines of the Bible and safe guard them well. His teaching the Word and sharing his rich life experiences will continue to inspire and encourage students, teachers and staff alike.

It takes a strong person to be truly gentle. Pastor T. C. Easow’s gentleness and genuineness was evident for all to see and know.

He knew the Bible very well,

Celebrating a life lived in Christ

- Pastor T. C. Easow “ Faith makes a Christian.

Life proves a Christian.

Trial confirms a Christian.

Death crowns a Christian

ItGod’s wasown faith in Christ that made Pastor. T. C. Easow who he was – truly a man after heart. He proved it by his life and the stormy trials he went through only

confirmed his faith in Christ. Today he is resting in Christ, awaiting his crown of glory!

Easowchayan, as he was fondly called, was a prayer warrior and an intercessor. He never missed any opportunity to assure us of his incessant prayers for us – as individuals, family and for the IBC family - a tremendous encouragement for all of us.

He had various needs – never did he demand or speak of them ever. He loved people genuinely and cared for them and their families. When he enquired about your family, it was not for the sake of conversation, but out of sincere interest.

He first started teaching at Hebron Bible College in 1971, at the invitation of my grandfather, Late Pastor K. E. Abraham and taught until 1993. Then in 1994 continued teaching at India Bible College & Seminary until about six months ago.

He has been a dear friend and co-worker of my father, Pastor T. S. Abraham, who is 91. Rev. Dr. T. Valson Abraham who worked alongside Pastor Easow, drew much strength from his assurances of prayer for the family and ministry.

His life and ministry at IBC was valuable and regarded very highly. 45 years ago, Pastor T. C. Easow stepped into this campus as a Bible teacher and remained consistent all these years. At 7: 40 a.m. - three days a week, he would be spotted in the corridors of the Bible College. After breakfast he would be in class by 8:00 a.m. He was very particular that every student of his should be deeply rooted in the Fundamental

was strong in the Word - yet never displayed it with pride or arrogance. His spirit of personal evangelism was contagious and many young men and women have been drawn into the Kingdom of Heaven because of his persistent evangelism. He wrote many gospel tracts, conducted open air meetings and loved to hold mini conventions – all to proclaim the Word effectively so that people would hear and respond.

A great encourager and motivator – Easowchayan appreciated what was genuinely good. He was generous in love.

And did not withhold appreciation where it was due. Man or woman, old or young – all were treated with respect and dignity. He neither talked ill about anyone nor did ill health mask his cheerful disposition. He never burdened anyone with his woes. Our students enjoyed his presence and hence Easowchayan came to IBC depite physical encumbrances.

Continued on page 25

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Rev. Thomas Cherian, Mumbai Bible Teacher, Preacher

Introduction The Bible records a number of names and titles of God in the Old and New Testament.

El Elyon is one such title. The following article will first look at the significance of a name or title in Hebrew. Thereafter, we shall trace where the title occurs particularly in the Old Testament and finally venture into the various possible meanings that can be drawn based on the context of these Biblical passages.

Throughout

scripture, God reveals Himself through His names or titles.

There are more than 900 names or titles of God in the Bible. When we study these names, which are revealed to us in the Bible, we will have a better understanding about the God of the Bible.

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El Elyon

- God Most High, in the Bible

I. The significance of names In Old Testament times, a name was not only a means of identification, but an identity as well. It revealed the personality or character of a person. Many times a special meaning was attached to the name. Names had, among other purposes, an explanatory purpose (for example Nabal, which means ‘fool’, is the target of Abigail's explanation to David: "For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him”–1 Samuel 25:25). Throughout scripture, God reveals Himself through His names or titles. There are more than 900 names or titles of God in the Bible. When we study these names, which are revealed to us in the Bible, we will have a better understanding about the God of the Bible. Thus, the meanings behind God's names reveal the central personality and nature of the One who bears them.

From a theological point of view, the personal name of God, YHWH was revealed only once to Israel through Moses as seen in Exodus 3:13-14. The remaining titles are associated with the name of a place, patriarch or the character of God. These titles were mostly given by the people of God in the Old Testament or individuals associated with them. It has been noted that the titles are interchangeably used for the Name of the God of Israel. The title El Elyon is one of the many titles used in Biblical text, especially in the Old Testament. This title is used by a non-Hebrew king Melchizedek for the first time, while conversing with Abram.

II. Mentions in the Bible: The title occurs both as the simple Elyon as well as the compound El Elyon in the Bible. The Hebrew Elyon occurs 31 times in the Old Testament. The equivalent Aramaic

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word ‘Hilay’ occurs 10 times, all in the book of Daniel. Elyon is always translated as “Most High.” When preceded by El, the Hebrew word for God, it is translated as ‘God Most High’. In the New Testament, the Greek equivalent to Most High is used nine times.

The compound name El Elyon (translated ‘God Most High’ or ‘Most High God’) occurs 12 times in the Old Testament. It first occurs four times in Genesis 14:18, 20, and 22. Furthermore, passages in the Old Testament that use the compound name ‘El Elyon’ are Psalms 78:35, 78:56; Daniel 3:26; Psalms 9:2 and Daniel 3:26, 4:2, 5:18, 21. A similar title Yahweh Elyon (YHWH Most High) is used in Psalms 7:17; 47:2; and 97:9.

With the help of some statistics provided by the NASB version, we derive the following: ‘The Most High’ is used 27 times in the Old Testament and 5 times in the New Testament ‘The Most High God’ is used 6 times in the Old Testament and 4 times in the New Testament ‘God Most High’ is used 5 times in the Old Testament ‘LORD [=YHWH] Most High’ is used 3 times in the Old Testament

III. Meanings of the title El Elyon In the following study, we will observe the various possible meanings that can be ascribed to the title El Elyon in the Old Testament and also look at its New Testament equivalents.

When

applied to Yahweh, the name ‘Elyon’ stresses His highest supremacy.

When the two names ‘El’ and ‘Elyon’ are combined, the resultant name can be literally translated as ‘the extremely exalted, sovereign, High God’;

A) Etymological meaning El Elyon is a compound title and is therefore a combination of two separate words El and Elyon.

1) El: The words El or Elohim are the terms used for God by both pagans and Hebrews.

It specifically refers to the monotheistic God of Israel. Some believe that it has been derived from ‘el, which originates from the root word ’wl (which means strong).

Others think that Elohim is derived from two other roots: ’lh (which means "god") in conjunction with ’eloah (which means fear). Meanwhile, some others presume that both ’el and Elohim have come from ’eloah.

2) Elyon: This is another word that means Most High. The word ‘elyon’ is an adjective derived from the Hebrew root 'lh, meaning to ‘go up’ or ‘ascend’. In each of the instances, where the adjective occurs, it denotes that which is highest or uppermost.

It is used to describe either the height of objects (2 Kings 15:35; 18:17) or the prominence of people (Psalms 89:27) or the prominence of Israel as a nation (Deuteronomy 26; 19; 28:1) When applied to Yahweh, the name ‘Elyon’ stresses His highest supremacy. When the two names ‘El’ and ‘Elyon’ are combined, the resultant name can be literally translated as ‘the extremely exalted, sovereign, High God’; this is further expanded in Psalms 57:2 as the One who is revered and strong, as in Psalms 57:2.

Following are the few meanings that we will discuss to understand the nature of God based on the context of various biblical passages.

(El Elyon). Unlike Melchizedek, all the other kings with whom Abram had come in contact with were worshippers of Canaanite gods. His words made it clear that he represented the Most High God (El Elyon), when he spoke to Abram in verses 19-20 (NKJV).

So the conversation between Melchizedek and Abram reveals two things. The first thing is that there is one and only one true God who created the heavens and the earth. In other words, Abram and Melchizedek were monotheistic in their belief. Secondly, even though there were many gods (which are actually false) as believed in the pagan world, the God whom they believed is the most supreme God, who enabled Abram to win the battle.

1) The monotheistic and supreme God In Genesis 14, we find this name of God used four times in the story of Melchizedek.

Abraham’s nephew Lot was held captive in the midst of a war between nine Canaanite kings. Abram went out to rescue Lot and as he was returning home, he met Melchizedek who introduced himself as the king of Salem and priest of God Most High

2) Highest in all sense God is pictured as higher than anything else in this world, be it in the political, social or religious spheres.

B) Meanings based on biblical passages

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a) Highest in priesthood Although Melchizedek and Aaron were high priests from a human point of view, God is the highest of all, and all human high priests are subject to Him. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the greatest or highest of all priests because He lives forever and also He doesn’t need to offer sacrifice every now and then (Hebrews 7). b) Highest in receiving glory: Abram gave Melchizedek tithes of all, which is, of the spoils from the war with nine kings (Hebrews 7:4). This may be looked upon, as a gift of gratitude presented to Melchizedek. Please note that those who receive kindness should show kindness.

Gratitude is one of nature's laws.

So, Abraham was expressing his gratitude to God Most High, who deserves all praise and honour by presenting his gifts to God’s representative.

3) Incomparable How awesome is YHWH Most

The title

El Elyon identifies God as the sovereign ruler of the universe. He is in complete control of everything that happens.

In the book of Daniel, the title El Elyon is used to indicate God’s sovereignty over kingdoms.

High, the great King over all the earth (Psalms 47:2). The title ‘Most High’ stands alone and is found in many poetic passages, especially in the Psalms. It appears in Balaam’s oracle in Numbers 24:16 as a separate name parallel to God Almighty. Also, it appears in Moses’ final song in Deuteronomy 32:8 (a much discussed verse). Psalms 83:18 and 97:9 also portray YHWH as the Most High over all the earth. All these descriptions point to the fact that there is no equal to EL Elyon. He is, therefore, incomparable.

4) Sovereign ruler The title El Elyon identifies God as the sovereign ruler of the universe. He is in complete control of everything that happens. In the book of Daniel, the title El Elyon is used to indicate God’s sovereignty over kingdoms. When King Nebuchadnezzar met El Elyon he came to his senses and realized that he was nothing compared to the sovereign God. In Daniel 4:34 (NKJV), Nebuchadnezzar blessed the Most High, and praised and honoured Him who lives forever. In Isaiah 14:14, out of Satan’s mouth comes one of the greatest testimonies of the sovereignty of God ever uttered when he called God ‘the Most High’. In Mark 5:7, demons acknowledged the sovereignty of God. As per Daniel 7:27, the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under the heavens will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him. 5) Omnipotent God Omnipotence means all powerful. While blessing Abram, King Melchizedek is acknowledging the fact that defeating the nine kings with an army of 318 men was solely due to the help of an all-powerful God (Genesis 14:11–20). This is because El Elyon is seated on the highest throne. The name or title ‘Elyon’ emphasizes God’s uniqueness and his supremacy over all. It reminds us that he is the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Owner of all. He is not merely mighty, but is the Almighty who proves His omnipotence by protecting His children even from the blazing furnaces and leaving Nebuchadnezzar awestruck (Daniel 3:26). His omnipotence is seen when He supersedes the natural law of birth of a human child (Luke 1:35). Above all, His omnipotence is very clearly seen from the thundering voice that resounded from heaven (2 Samuel 22:14).

6) Omniscient God “Does the Most High have knowledge? …when I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny,” expresses Asaph in Psalms 73:3, 6-11, 16. Asaph wrote this during the most depressing and uncertain moments of his life. He was concerned about the future of both himself and the wicked. His doubts were cleared when the Most High revealed Himself as an (omniscient) all-knowing God. The Most High remembers the remote past and knows the future of all as well.

7) Most secure place The most secure place in this world is the shelter of the Most High. All the other places of refuge, as per a human point of view, cannot be really trusted. The natural calamities and terrorist attacks occurring in the world today explain this fact very well.

Psalms 91 categorically states the power of the presence of the Most High. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1). If we make the Most High our dwelling, even the LORD, who is our refuge, then no harm will befall us, no disaster will come near our tent. For he will command His angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways; they will lift us up in their hands, so that we will not strike our foot against a stone (Psalms 91:9-12).

C) New Testament Perspective As mentioned above, ‘the Most High (God)’ appears nine times in the New Testament. The most memorable instance is when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary

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The Most

who was to give birth to Jesus (Luke 1:32). The ‘Most High’ here refers to ‘the Lord God’. When Mary questioned the possibility of her conceiving a baby while being a virgin, Gabriel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you (verse 35).” Again, ‘the Holy Spirit’ is obviously ‘the power of the Most High’ who is God. In Luke’s account that is similar to Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus terms his genuine disciples as the ‘children of the Most High’ (Luke 6:35). Later, when Jesus was about to deliver a demon-possessed man from Gadarenes, the chief demon cried out in a loud voice acknowledging Jesus as the Son of the Most High God (Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28). Later, and similarly, as the Apostle Paul was about to cast a demon out of a slave girl with a spirit of divination, the demon acknowledged Paul and Silas as the ‘servants of the Most High God’ (Acts 16:17). Thus, both Jesus and demons recognized God as ‘the Most High God’.

What does it mean for God to be designated as ‘Most High’ or in similar terms? It surely means that God resides in heaven and that His throne is very high, thus higher than any other throne. This fact symbolizes that God is greater than anyone else.

Conclusion God Most High (El ELyon) is one of the most significant titles that describe His personality in a wide sense. At least seven attributes can be discovered when we look at the context in which this title is used in various biblical passages. This supreme, exalted, omniscient, omnipotent God is unique and incomparable. Those that trust in Him will never be shaken, even in an insecure and uncertain world. The most important thing El Elyon desires is to dwell in human hearts. Isaiah chapter 57 states that He wants to have sovereignty in our hearts, even as He does in the heavens and the earth, but He leaves that choice to us (Isaiah 57:15). One of the most important natures of God Most High is His humility. Though He is High and Exalted, He wishes to dwell in a contrite

High God is seeking for a church that includes people with broken and humble hearts, so that He could use them in an extraordinary way. If the Most High God can come down to the most minuscule level and become human to save humanity from the pit of sin, how much more humble and sensitive should a child of God be.

and lowly heart (Psalms 34:18).

Unfortunately, contriteness and humility have become rare virtues in Christendom today.

The Most High God is seeking for a church that includes people with broken and humble hearts, so that He could use them in an extraordinary way. If the Most High God can come down to the most minuscule level and become human to save humanity from the pit of sin, how much more humble and sensitive should a child of God be. May we consider others better than ourselves to hold on to our humility and thereby save them from missing eternity with God Most High. This is a fundamental sign of true spirituality. Let us be reminded that the Most High will be coming very soon to gather His humble bride and take them to the highest heavenly realms. may 2016

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Bro. Ajeesh George Faculty, India Bible College & Seminary, Kumbanad

We shall

attempt a careful and detailed look at El-Olam, a name of God being used first

by Abraham at Beersheba. Like El-Elyon and Yahweh, El-Olam is more than just a name of God. It is used to reveal a part of God’s nature and describes an element of who He is. Genesis to Revelation records human relationship with the everlasting God. Kings and prophets, tax collectors and persecutors, a young shepherd boy and and an exiled old man – each life was impacted for eternity by the eternal, everlasting God. Expressions of various biblical personalities and their worship reveal their encounters with the everlasting God:

'El' is a

word which stands for “God.” Olam meant “eternity, ancient, and everlasting, perpetual, beginning of the world and without end”.

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El-Olam : The Everlasting God

Abraham - “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called up on the name of the Lord, the eternal God”. (Gen.21:33) David - “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.”

(Ps.106: 48) Isaiah - “For this is what the high and lofty One says----he who lives forever…”

(Isa.57:15) Paul - “Now, to the king of eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever” (1Tim.1:17) John - “I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth -to every nation, tribe, language and people.” (Rev.14:6).

Meaning of El-Olam In Hebrew, 'El' is a word which stands for “God.” Olam meant “eternity, ancient, and everlasting, perpetual, beginning of the world and without end”. El-Olam is the God who will never grow old; the God to whom eternity is what present time is. The question which arises- what the exact meaning of the word is when it is applied to God, as in the passage where it first occurs in Abraham’s life and in the other places where it occurs in Holy Scripture. We can say that El-Olam is the ‘God of Ages’, that is, the God who works His will, not all at once, but through successive stages and varied dispensations.

About 225 of the uses of the word ‘Olam’ are used to convey the meaning ‘everlasting’ (forever and eternal). Olam translated ‘eternal’, originally meant that which was secret, hidden, concealed, or unknown. The Jews used the word when they wanted to refer to an unknown or indefinite time. From the idea of indefinite past or future, the Jews soon developed the idea of ‘eternity’, which referred to the incalculable and unknown past and to the incalculable and unknown future. Olam came to mean

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‘everlasting” and is generally translated so in our Bibles. Where the word is used of God, it usually includes his immutability and unchangebleness. Time changes, people change, needs change, but El-Olam never changes. This is the meaning of the word in Psalm 100:5, “for the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness through all generations”.

Linguists say that the word 'Olam' was related to the verb ‘Alam’ which meant “to conceal, to hide” (such as “to hide from sight”). So it may be that the idiomatic meaning of Olam was “of long duration, so that the beginning or end of the matter can’t be seen” (on the relatively short and narrow human point of view). In some case, “long-lasting” can be a fitting translation for Olam.

Significance of the divine name ‘El-Olam’ The unique significance of this name of God is that it reveals the nature of His work in relation with his creation.This name gives assurance in the protection, provision and presence of God almighty.

Firstly, this denotes the eternal presence of God. In other words, God has always existed and will always exist. Psalms 93:2 says, “Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. Psalms 90:2 agrees, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God “. We can’t find a time when God wasn’t there.

Secondly, El-Olam brings out the eternal plan of God. Not only was God there before time began, but His wisdom and plans were completely in place before the creation of the world. According to Proverbs 8, God’s wisdom is as everlasting as God Himself. “Yahweh possessed me (wisdom)... have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever on earth.”

God’s eternal plan is stated most clearly in Rev.13:8, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” As God was still forming the earth, He knew every person who would ever live. He knew every sin we would ever commit, from Adam’s first sin to that little lie you told this morning. So from before the beginning of creation, God had already planned out Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. His plan of redemption is everlasting. His plan for you is everlasting too. Psalms 139:16 declares “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”

God had every single one of your days written in His book before you were even a twinkle in your parent’s eye.He has a perfect plan for you. He also knows about all the times you would continue in His plan-and He planned for that too. In Rom.11, while Paul was writing about God’s plan for His people, he concluded with this “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out”. When you think about God’s entire plan for us, and all the times we mess those plans up, and yet God still plans for us messing up those plans.

Finally, El-Olam also denotes the idea that God is unchanging. If you could go back to eternity past, God would be exactly the same as He is now. No matter how far into eternity future we go, He will never be any different. God never changes.

El-Olam and Abraham The first revelation of God as El-Olam was to Abraham in Genesis 21:33. By calling on God as Olam, Abraham was calling on the one who is always and eternally available to us. People today need just such a God as the eternal, unchangeable Lord, El-Olam.

Why God was called the everlasting God at Beersheba, instead of somewhere else?

Some have suggested that this is the place where Abraham first exercised squatter’s rights in the Promised Land. Giving Abraham and his descendants the land of Palestine was a part of the “everlasting covenant” that God had made with Abraham (17:7).

El-Olam

brings out the eternal plan of God. Not only was God there before time began, but His wisdom and plans were completely in place before the creation of the world.

When Abraham dug a well and possessed Beersheba, it was an act of faith in God’s eternal promise. In calling Jehovah ElOlam, Everlasting God, Abraham was expressing faith in the God of the everlasting covenant.

There is a mystery or hiddenness (Alam) here, too: it is a mystery that Abraham had enough to see the well of Beersheba as a down payment on the future kingdom.

Beersheba, a place of availability- By calling on God as El-Olam, Abraham was calling on the one who is always and eternally available to us. To use modern theological language, he called up on the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God- the God who is eternally changeless. People today need such a God as the eternal, unchangeable Lord, El-Olam.

We call on him because ‘thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindness…have been ever (Olam) of old (Ps.25:6). David also said that “the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth all generations” (100:5). El-Olam means “the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children. (103:17) Beersheba, a place of protection- When Abraham called may 2016

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Let us trust

in this everlasting God to experience his everlasting provision under his everlasting protection. We can trust him for our yesterdays, our todays, our tomorrows and our eternal future. upon El-Olam at Beersheba, he was asking God to protect his well not only as along as Abimelech lived; he sought long term protection as well. Prior to this event, God had given Abraham immediate help according to his daily need. When he needed protection, wisdom or peace, God was there. But when Abraham calls on El-Olam, he is calling for God to protect the Promised Land from the enemies of Abraham’s descendants after he died. Abraham wanted Beersheba and the Promised Land to be his family inheritance forever.

Beersheba, a place of MysteryOthers see the hidden (Alam) God at Beer-sheba. They point out that since the future was hidden from Abraham, he called on the name of the God who can mysteriously see into future ages (Olam). As the apostle Paul teaches, these Old Testament events show types of what was to come in Christ.For example the birth of Issac of a “free woman” and Abraham’s rejection of the “son of the bondmaid” is a picture of God’s dealing with the Jews and later with the gentiles (Gen.4:2230). Since these things are done in mystery- i,e., their fulfilment awaits a dispensation(Olam) yet to be revealed- they are in the hands of El-Olam, the God of secrets and mysteries.

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The tamarisk tree is a long lived, evergreen, a fitting symbol of the covenant Abraham made with Abimelech. In Zech. 3:10 dwelling under one’s tree was a sign of peaceful security. These trees also required a supply of water and thus this act by Abraham indicated the fact that he was secure concerning his right to that parcel of land and had faith that God would provide water in what was otherwise a desert like area. The tree would also function as ‘marker’ of one of Abraham’s sites of worship and as a memorial or memory aid to the acts of God. The covenant Abraham made with Abimelech which secured the land he was to sojourn, was but reflection of the everlasting covenant God had made with him and in which He promised Abraham the land on which he sojourned for many days (Gen21:34). The planting of this long-lived tree, with its hard wood, and its wood, and its long, narrow, thickly clustered, evergreen leaves, was to be a type of the ever-enduring grace of the faithful covenant God.

Everlasting God- From Everlasting to Everlasting Moses “the man of God” describes the everlasting aspect of God declaring that…..

“Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting (Olam) to everlasting (Olam), you are God (Elohim)... For a thousand years in thy sight is like yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night”(Psalm 90:1-2,4). John Calvin says “The everlastingness of which Moses is to be referred not only to the essence of God,but also to His providence,by which he governs the world.He intends not merely that He is,but that He is God. Spurgeon comments: “Before those elder giants had struggled forth from nature’s womb, as her dread first born, the Lord was glorious and self-sufficient…God was when nothing else was. He was God when it was not a world but a chaos, when mountains were not up-heaved, and the generation of the heavens and the earth had not commenced.” In this Eternal One, there is a safe abode for the successive generations of men (Isa. 26:4). If God Himself were not the same yesterday, today and forever, He would not be a suitable refuge for mortal men (Heb. 13:8). The eternal existence of God is mentioned to set forth the brevity of human life in Psalm 90. It is good to contemplate God’s eternity in the light of man’s frailty. We are creatures of time, but God is eternal. He is our dwelling place from generation to generation.

Let us trust in this everlasting God to experience his everlasting provision under his everlasting protection. We can trust him for our yesterdays, our todays, our tomorrows and our eternal future.

I want to conclude here by reminding about the everlasting protection of our Everlasting God. A mother eagle builds a comfortable nest for her young, padding it with feathers from her own breast. But God-given instinct that builds that secure nest also forces the eaglets out of it before long. Eagles are made to fly, and the parent eagle will not fail to teach them. Only then will they become what they are meant to be. So one day the mother eagle will disturb the twigs of the nest, making it an uncomfortable place to stay.Then she will pick up a perplexed eaglet, soar into the sky, and drop it. The little bird will begin to free-fall. Where is Mama now? She is not far away. Quickly she will swoop under and catch the fledging on one strong wing.

She will repeat this exercise until each eaglet is capable of flying on its own. Are you afraid of free-falling? Remember, God will fly to your rescue and spread his everlasting arms beneath you. He will also teach you something new and wonderful through it.

Falling into God’s arm is not something to be afraid of.

By looking into these details about El-Olam, we can say boldly that this everlasting of God of generations is our God too. He is almighty, and beyond the description of human mind. He is there everywhere to meet every need of his children. And we are safe under his everlasting arms. And this God of Abraham is our God too. Above all, He is eternal and with Him our eternity is safe. Let us look back and thank him, let us look to present and trust in him and let us look forward and have hope in him. Thus we will be blessed, because our everlasting God is with us from everlasting to everlasting.

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Saju Mathew Jesus Mission

DO NOT SWEAR

given more emphasis than of the other ones.

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain (Ex 20:7- RSV). Why is God so wrathful when somebody breaks this particular law? May be it is because this is something directly against God himself. Look at the other laws… Remember the Sabbath day, honor your parents, thou shall not kill, shall not commit adultery, shall not steal, shall not bear false witness, shall not covet… in all these laws, God is not directly involved.

in need of a thousand bucks and he requested his church friend Johnny to spare it if he could. Johnny didn’t have the money; so, together they went to Jacob, who was also a member of the same church. Jacob offered the money, but insisted that he get it back the next day. Tom said,” Yes! I swear to you, my friend, in the name of our God… that if there is a morrow, I will return the money!”

Johnny was a little upset to hear Tom swearing. “Hey Tom, you give back the money tomorrow, but don’t swear in the name of God…” Johnny said, “For the Bible prohibits us to swear. It says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain’’ Exo. 20:7.

Normally we mention the third commandment of the Decalogue only in relation to swearing. So we attribute lesser importance to this one, than the first and second commandments. The Decalogue, or Ten Words (Deut 4:13) was given directly to all Israel by an audible and terrible voice, the voice of Yahweh, sounding like a trumpet over the multitude (Ex 19:16; 20:18). The Israelites trembled before the voice of the Lord and they begged that God would speak no more directly, but through Moses.

The rest of the Law was then given through Moses, but the heart of the Law had already been given in the Decalogue. All the other laws were a godly explanation of the Decalogue. So, it is necessary to see the Decalogue as a single unit. All commands have equal importance. Nevertheless, the consequence of breaking of this law is

The Israelites

Tom was

trembled before the voice of the Lord and they begged that God would speak no more directly, but through Moses. The rest of the Law was then given through Moses, but the heart of the Law had already been given in the Decalogue. may 2016

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Even in the case of the first two laws, where serving other gods and making of molten images are forbidden, God’s name is not directly defamed, even though it is a grave rejection of the eternal truth about God! However, here, the defiler takes up the name of the Lord directly. It is something like a culprit tarnishing the name of the magistrate himself. A severe penalty is pronounced for those who break this law. God himself will be the avenger for the defilers. So, the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

The Jewish Rabbis strictly warned the people of Israel not to break an oath if they made a swearing in the name of the Lord.

False swearing is condemned in Lev 19:12 as a profanation of the name of Yahweh. The word prohibits all employment of the name of God for ‘vain’.

Why is God Yahweh called “I am who I am”? It is because He cannot be compared with some body, or something else.

When Moses was commissioned

by God to reach his people with the message of redemption, to tell them that the “God of their

The Jewish

people took the law literally.

They feared to “take the name of the Lord” lightly. However, at a later stage, the Rabbis limited the application of the law only to the use of the name “Yahweh”.

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fathers” has sent him to be an agent of the mighty redemption work, he was little skeptical. He was uncertain how the Israelites would respond to the phrase “God of their fathers”.

They were in captivity for more than four centuries. There is no reason to believe that the Israelites as a whole were zealous in their faith. (Remember, the fourth or fifth generation Pentecostals who had all the opportunity for living the faith of their forefathers, failed in their race.) How can we expect the sons of Jacob (who never were serious about their religion) to hand over their faith to the fifteenth or sixteenth generation? May be a minority was holding the faith close to their heart, but the majority was ignorant about the faith of their fathers. I am sure; many of the Israelites were idol worshippers, who worshipped the bull god of Egypt. That must be the reason why Aaron could easily make a “golden calf” when the mischievous Israelites wanted a god to walk before them. Remember what Joshua says to the people of Israel when they are about to settle in Canaan: “Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD (Josh 24:14).

If Moses goes to the Israelites in the name of the “God of their fathers,” they would ask: “God of our fathers? Who He is? What is He like? Is He like the sun god?

Moon god?or, like the bull god that we worshipped in Egypt?” Then it would be the responsibility of Moses to explain to them the “God of their fathers”. So Moses asks God: “Please Lord; I know that you are the God of my fathers. But how can I reveal You to the Israelites who are ignorant about their ancestor’s God? Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exo. 3:13) God looked at Moses… He had pity on him! “That means you want to compare me with somebody Moses? That is impossible! If you want to compare, you can do it only with me… I am who I am!” God said. God is always “I AM”. His being is described always in present tense… All the ages were and will be present tense to Him! God had made known the glory of His nature in His name. God said to Moses; “This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you (Exo. 3:14). The name, the great I AM, was not to be abused by His people. When we use it in ‘vain’, that is, using it without much reverence and fear; you break the commandment of the Lord!

The Jewish people took the law literally. They feared to “take the name of the Lord” lightly. However, at a later stage, the Rabbis limited the application of the law only to the use of the name “Yahweh”. Hence, they not only tolerated, but also sanctioned the practice of swearing in common conversation as quite harmless, provided the reference to God was not directly expressed. So, instead of taking the name Yahweh, they used other words like heaven, glory and alike. Remember, the prodigal son comes back to his father, saying that he has sinned against the ‘heavens,’ not ‘God’! (Also remember our phrases like “good heavens!” and “O’ my goodness!”) However Jesus was not for a compromise. He said, “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” Matt 5:33-37.

The word ‘take up’ does not mean just “to utter” here. A different meaning is attached to these words by Hengstenberg, who explains them thus: ‘Thou shalt not attribute (carry) nothingness to the name of Yahweh thy God. Yahweh, the I AM, who had revealed Himself as such to Israel, must not be confounded with nothingness.

‘The commandment, according to his view, is directed against hypocrisy in general, of

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which the essence is falsehood. When a hypocrite uses the name of the Lord to show his false piety, he is putting God to ‘nothingness,’ where no real piety exists! He is a pretender. He is not real. He is using the name of the Lord ‘in vain’.

The hypocrite makes a profession of God’s name, but does not live up to that profession. Those that name the name of God or hail the name of Jesus and say a big “praise the Lord”, but do not depart from iniquity, as that name binds them to do, name it in vain. What they say with their mouth doesn’t mean anything to them. Their worship is worthless. Jesus is scolding them for their vain talking. “You hypocrites!

Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men”(Matt 15:7-9). So the third commandment asks you to mean what you speak! When we are praying, many times, we pray even without thinking what we pray. We just ‘heap up empty words’ as the gentiles do (Matthew 6:7). The words we utter do not come to our mind, or in our heart. We utter many words which are meaningless to us. It doesn’t arouse our emotions. We call Jesus ‘Lord’ ‘Lord’, but we do not know what the word ‘Lord’ means! Lord is somebody who rules over! Even though we call Jesus Lord, we seldom obey Him. If you call him Lord, you are His slave.

Then how can you disobey him. So, if a disobeying man takes up the name of the Lord, even in his prayers, he is profaning the name of the Lord! Many people think they can manipulate God through their oblations. That is an Eastern thinking, not a Biblical one.

Religious observances are worthless, if we fail to observe the commandments of the Lord. A sinful man cannot manipulate God, even with long fasting and prayers.

The Israelites were coming to the temple of God with many sacrifices. However, God was displeased with their offerings: “The multitude of your sacrifices- what are they to me?” says the LORD. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me….(Isaiah 1. 11-13).

God says He cannot bear their evil assemblies. “They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen,” He said.

Why was God reluctant to receive the sacrifices and offerings of the Israelites? He answers: “When you spread out your hands in prayer… Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15).

When you stretch your hands towards heavens, it should be clean; or, you are taking the name of the Lord in vain. Your prayers would be unheard! Isaiah again tells about the people who thought they could manipulate God through fasting: ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high (Isaiah 58:3-5). So God asks Israel to “wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:16-17). He also asks people to go to Him for ‘reasoning!’ The verse can be better translated like this- “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” v. 18.

So, when you call Jesus Lord, Lord without “settling the matter” with Him, you are taking up the name of the Lord in vain. If you take up the name of the Lord in vain, your worship is in vain, your prayers are in vain and even your fasting is in vain!

So, when someone pretends to be spiritual, where in reality he is worldly, he is taking the name of the Lord in vain. Even without uttering, you can profane the

Why was

God reluctant to receive the sacrifices and offerings of the Israelites? He answers: “When you spread out your hands in prayer…

Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15). name of the Lord! Your life may be a profanation to the name of the Lord, if you are living it in an unworthy manner. We are supposed to live a life that is worthy of our calling. Paul pleads with us to, “live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph 4:1-3.

When we fail to live a life that is “worthy of the call” that we received, either by rebellion or by carelessness, we are profaning the name of the Lord!

Do not be deceived by thinking that the third command speaks only on uttering the name of the Lord in swearing. It is calling Him Lord, Lord, when your heart is empty. When a believer finds no ‘yes’ in his ‘yes’, he is profaning the name of the Lord. It is also offering oblations without purity in life! If you do that, your sacrifice would be like Cain’s sacrifice! God hates pretenders. When you act religious where in reality your piety is void, you put God’s name in nothingness. Remember, our God is a zealous God. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. may 2016

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Pastor K.P. Mathew, USA Bible Teacher & Pastor

God approaches

humanity in a personal way.

He used divine words and acts to give directions through His prophets and servants at different times of history. But there are different forms of directions coming from man made gods which change according to religions and cultures. Hence humanity fails to understand the meaning of life and the purpose for which it was designed.

The Ten Commandments are given amidst the marvelous experiences of going through the Red Sea, of seeing the waters gush forth out of the rock at a time of great thirst, of being fed balanced food that fell each day to nourish their bodies. God provided explanations along with the Ten Commandments and placed them in the framework

The vision

of the true God and true worship is very significant.

Aaron also witnessed along with Moses the divine intervention for exodus.

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The FIRST commandment - I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me.

of the Word, the Bible. God wrote the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone and handed them over to Moses.

Moses emphasizes to his people the extreme importance of explaining these laws to their children. Parents were entrusted with the tremendous responsibility to discuss and talk to their children about the wonders of God that they had seen and known in their early days.

We live in a rapidly changing age. The moral climate surrounding our children is not like the temptations or wickedness that we or our ancestors faced. Here the teaching of the Ten Commandments in our churches and society is very relevant.

The first commandment is the one that is basic to all other commandments: “I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me” (Ex.20:2-3).

Though God revealed Himself as Yahweh, the Redeemer in delivering the people from Egypt, they could not serve God with sincere and pure devotion. The problem in Moses’ time and in our time is the same: the frightening hardness of heart and the deliberate turning away from the truth of God’s existence and revelation. They not only turned away from God but they turned to substitute gods. They wanted mixture paganism and they dared to place the name the true and living God on a calf made of gold.

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The vision of the true God and true worship is very significant. Aaron also witnessed along with Moses the divine intervention for exodus. But he could not resist the pressures from his people and hence succumbed to their demands for a god. He built an altar in front of the calf and announced that the following day would be a festival to the lord. So the people rose early in the morning and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings.

The number of man made gods is increasing these years. The tragedy is that people blindly follow them under the influence of demonic forces. They are attracted to material prosperity, physical healing, fame and sensational stunts. Though Jesus had the temptations, He overcame the same (Luke 4:5-7). Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of this world in a moment of time. There is a sense in which He does have authority over the kingdoms of this world. Because of man’s sin Satan has became the ruler of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11), the god of this age (2 Cor.4:4) and the prince of the power of the air (Eph.2:2).

God has purposed that the kingdom of this world will one day become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (Rev.11:15). So Satan was offering to Christ what would eventually be His any way. Jesus knew that there could be no shortcut to the throne.

He could not achieve a legitimate end by a wrong means. Under no circumstances would He worship the devil, no matter what the price might be. Therefore the Lord quoted Deut.6:13 to show that as a man he should worship and serve God alone.

God does not say that there are different representations of Himself. In that first commandment He speaks of other gods, of false gods. There is danger of worshipping other gods even when using the name of the one true God, as the Israelites did with the calf. Israel, while wandering through different places worshipped gods of those lands. They failed to give heed to the voice of God, hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one (Deut.6:4).

When Jesus was asked by a Pharisee, “Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the Law ?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, this is the first and greatest commandment.” Jesus’ answer makes it even more clear that no other gods are to be loved, that no false god is to creep in and take the place of the wholeheartedness and completeness of our acting in accord with the first commandment.

In his classic treatment and application to us of the Ten Commandments, John Calvin tells us that in forbidding us to have strange gods, God meant that we are not to transfer to another what belongs to Him. This he sums up under four headings: 1. Adoration: Worship and submission of our consciences to His Law. This releases us from the compulsions of superstition.

2. Trust: The assurance or reposing in Him that arises from the recognition of His attributes, attributing to Him all wisdom, righteousness, might, truth and goodness.

We judge that we are blessed only by communion with Him. This releases us from primitive fears of fate and provides the ground for our peace of mind.

3. Invocation: Which is that habit of our mind, whenever necessity presses us, of resorting to His faithfulness and help as our only support. It offers us a way out of fear and false reliance.

4. Thanksgiving: Which is that gratitude with which we ascribe praise to Him for all good things. Where many people speak of ‘good luck’ the Bible speaks of ‘blessing’.

The first commandment speaks of the existence of a personal God. He is the one who can be loved by us. Having no other gods before the true and living God is not an easy command to obey. The words, ‘love with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul and with all your strength’ are used which demands our deep commitment and sincere devotion to God.

Idol worship

is strictly forbidden by God. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols - worship him all you gods! (Ps.97:7).

Jer. 9:12-14 explains the kind of destruction that has made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.

Idol worship is strictly forbidden by God. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols - worship him all you gods! (Ps.97:7). Jer. 9:12-14 explains the kind of destruction that has made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. It is inward stubbornness, the inward turning away from God always accompanied by a turning to false gods.

Over against the polytheism of the Canaanite people the Jews constantly affirm the unity of God. This in fact is one of the great contributions of the Bible to the world. The God who reveals Himself in the Judaeo Christian tradition is not pure being, the impersonal Brahman, the unmoved mover. He is the living God who can be known only in experience. It cannot be merely intellectual or simply emotional but must result in obedience.

So theology is not a matter of making correct propositions. It is a matter of coming into contact with the living God, revealed in Jesus Christ. may 2016

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Pastor P. T. Thomas Writer & Bible Teacher

The English

word ‘hallowed’ means ‘to sanctify’ or ‘to make holy’. Does the name of the Lord lack any jot in holiness that we may pray for His great name to be further sanctified?

This sounds a litle paradoxical, doesn’t it? Albeit, as Jesus has taught His disciples to pray for the divine name to be hallowed, it is definitely a pertinent and perfect prayer. So the seeming sense of incongruity is caused by our blurred understanding.

God is one

and the only one of the genre.

He is unique and unequalled.

So God’s name is unique and hallowed.

This exclusive singleness of God in highlighted in this prayer. His name is above every other name in the whole universe.

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HALLOWED BE THY NAME Be Hallowed As the same words used in the secular sphere are also used in the spiritual realm, there is the possibility of their ideas getting coloured. The common tendency is for the secular idea to colour the spiritual sense. This is because our thoughts primarily lean towards the material. In the course of time the secular sense gets popularly accepted.

This has happened in our understanding of the word ‘hallowed’ too. In the secular sense ‘hallowing’ or sanctifying’ tend to mean a process of purifying or cleaning. In the spiritual realm, hallowing refers more to the ascribed status of a thing, rather than to its inherent state or its physical condition or level of priority. So ‘be hallowed’ means ‘to set apart’ or ‘to treat as something special and uncommon’. It relates to the manner in which something is treated. When we pray ‘hallowed be thy name’, we pray that the name of the Lord be set apart and held in high honour. May it not be treated as something ordinary or common place.

God is one and the only one of the genre. He is unique and unequalled. So God’s name is unique and hallowed. This exclusive singleness of God in highlighted in this prayer. His name is above every other name in the whole universe. The highest honour, reverence and awe is due to God and God alone. His name is to be treated as singular, unparalleled and unique. It is to be set apart as special and hallowed.

Purifying and Hallowing A common man may not see any difference between purifying and hallowing. But in the Biblical sense, the two are very different. Purifying is cleaning, whereas, hallowing is separating from the ordinary. Purifying is removing the impurities and improving the intrinsic value or the structural quality. But hallowing is elevating the status and standing of a thing by separating it from others and placing it in a special status. The structural purity of two things may be the same. But if one of them is separated for

renewing and enriching life

a divine cause and held above the ordinary, it is hallowed. So hallowing of the name of the Lord does not add to its holiness or majesty. God alone is perfectly holy as holiness could be (Rev.15:4) So perfect is the holiness and glory of God that there is no scope of adding to His holiness. God’s holiness is unique, perfect and inviolable.

No one can add to it or violate it. So when we pray: ‘hallowed be thy name’, we beseech the grace of God so that the name of the Lord stands singularly hallowed in and through our lives.

Profaning the Lord’s Name If the name of the Lord is inviolably hallowed and perfect, how can it be profaned?

True, the name of ‘the Lord is inviolably hallowed’ and perfect in holiness. But as God is our God and His name is called on us, we can profane the name of the Lord by our unworthy living. God is invisible and unknown to the worldly people around us. We stand before them as God’s ambassadors. So people come to know God through our life and demeanour. When we stoop to the ordinary, we project our God as an ordinary deity before the world.

It is the Father’s Name This is the first context in the scriptures where anyone addresses God as ‘Father’, while praying. Earlier, the Israelites prayed addressing God as ‘the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’–or as ‘the Lord of Hosts’ or as ‘the Holy One of Israel’. But here Jesus asks His disciples to address God as ‘Father’. This puts us into a new relationship with God. God no longer is just the awe-inspiring Almighty One reigning in His divine majesty. He comes near us as our loving father. God’s hallowed name gets associated with our day-to-day living. This exposes the name of the Lord to possible profaning before the world at large. We are God’s children and God is our father. God in His

When

we pray that the name of the Lord be hallowed, in fact we pray for our own sanctification.

The name of the Lord is all holy and hallowed.

Now as it is called on us, we by our unholy life can profane it. Hallowing is setting something apart and placing it above the ordinary.

grace has accepted us into this cordial relationship. Now, we should stand up to this great standing before God and before the world.

Our Sanctification is the Key When we pray that the name of the Lord be hallowed, in fact we pray for our own sanctification.

The name of the Lord is all holy and hallowed. Now as it is called on us, we by our unholy life can profane it. Hallowing is setting something apart and placing it above the ordinary. If and when we stoop to the ordinary and submit to the commonplace, we drag down the name of the Lord from its hallowed heights and profane it. Our sanctification is the key to the hallowing of the name of our may 2016

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heavenly father. Every privilege brings responsibilities. Now that the hallowed name of the Lord is called on us, we have the sacred responsibility to the Lord, for it to be hallowed.

Breach of Covenant We are conceited that we don’t indulge in any wickedness or evils. But we forget the fact that our standard should be above that of the morally upright. We should stand above the ordinary. When we start comparing ourselves with the common populace, we go down from our expected standing. We should stay above the ordinary to hold the name of the Lord hallowed. But also, we fail in this and sometimes even go lower than the common people around us.

Prophet Jeremiah specifically speaks about an instance of the Israelites profaning the name of the Lord (Jere 34:12-16). They made a covenant with the Lord in the temple. But they broke the covenant and profaned the name of the Lord. The words of the prophet have a special bearing on our society. The oath one takes at marriage is perhaps the most solemn oath one takes in his life.

It is taken in the name of the Triune God in the assembly of the saints invoking the witnessing of even the holy angels. One pledges his commitment to the covenant in any diverse or adverse situation in life’, till death do part us’. It is taken in the name of the holy God in all solemnity and seriousness.

But these days it is frivolously broken for silly reasons. Only he who keeps his oath even when it hurts will live on the holy hill of Zion (Psa.15:1,4). We slight the holy name of the Lord when we break an oath taken in His name.

Our ‘yes’ should be ‘yes’ Our ‘No’ Should be ‘No’ (Matt.5:37) That too, when an ‘yes’ is said in the name of the Lord, we should hold on to it and honour the Lord. For

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silly clash of ego we break our solemn covenant and profane our God. All the while we pray, ‘hallowed be thy name’! I wonder, how dare we teach the almighty God! By trifling with the name of the Lord and breaking our oaths we profane His hallowed name and risk our eternal blessings. This is a matter which demands our urgent attention.

As the name of the Lord is called on us, let us stand worthy of it. This is how we can hold the name of the Lord hallowed in and through our lives.

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IRAQ -Pray for Miriam, a 93-year-old Christian Living in a War-Torn Village Miriam, a 93-year-old Christian woman, is the only believer left in her Iraqi village. In 2014 the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) overran the village, forcing thousands of Christians, including her children and other relatives, to flee. Miriam has survived a series of tragedies in her life involving the persecution of Christians, and her village is still a very dangerous place to live. Some nearby Kurds have been checking in on Miriam from time to time and bringing her supplies. In addition, VOM is helping meet her needs through a local church partner. Please pray for Miriam’s health, safety and spiritual encouragement.

Celebrating a life lived in Christ- Pastor T. C. Easow

Continued from page 9

The uniqueness of India Bible College & Seminary has been the rich heritage of teachers – stalwarts in Word and life. IBC has a legacy where the elderly and seasoned ministers of the gospel are regarded and honored. I recall, with immense gratitude to God, the lives of those who have gone before us – Pastor M.V. Chacko, Pastor K. M. John and Pastor George Oommen who taught the Word of God for numerous years, even decades. And now Pastor T.C. Easow - who taught and equipped men and women for church planting and evangelism these past 45 years. His classroom teaching was supplemented during weekends as he took students for practical training - as a local church pastor and later as a district pastor.

He modeled integrity, humility, simplicity and tremendous passion for the lost.

He never demanded opportunities, nor did he display annoyance when opportunities were not granted.

Do we hear Pastor T.C. Easow echo Paul’s word to Timothy, “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well”. (2 Tim. 2:2)??

Just One Minute

BHUTAN Pray for Pastor Tandin Wangyal, Reaching Out to Buddhists In the Buddhist nation of Bhutan, few Christians are reaching out to the Bhutanese majority with the gospel. However, one pastor who spent time in prison for his Christian work is committed to sharing Jesus. “We want to reach out to our people and to share the love of Christ, how powerful it is in our life,” the pastor said. “We want to reach out to the Buddhist background family, to disciple them.” In 2014, Pastor Tandin was charged with receiving funds to spread Christianity and sentenced to nearly four years in prison. His sentence was later reduced and he spent 49 days in jail before posting bail. The pastor said he was especially encouraged to read all the prayers posted for him on iCommitToPray.com during his imprisonment.

Continued from page 2

This is the God whom God has called us to proclaim to the world around us.

Through Jesus Christ, I AM WHO I AM is the only God who can save us from our puny ideas and even punier power. He is the only God who can redeem and transform our lives and destinies, give us a glimpse into the future, and create a New Heaven and a New Earth.

When God introduces Himself to us, we had better accept Him for Who He really is, not the domesticated fantasy He is not. Our eternal destinies (and the world’s) depend upon it.

Father God, thank you for introducing yourself to us and telling us who you really are through your Son and your names you have provided to us. Thank you for delivering us from our fantasies and self-deception. Help us to know you as you really are, and help us to make you and your salvation known to those who have not known you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ears! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear!

John Newton may 2016

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Answers for Quiz - 43

QUIZ–44 Ordained Before Birth by God

Miracles of Paul and Peter

1. Who was the strongman ordained before birth to deliver Israel from the Philistines?

2. Which child, who later ministered with the priest Eli, was ordained before birth to serve God? 3. Which apostle was foreordained to minister to the Gentiles?

4. Who was the kinsman of Christ who was ordained to be his forerunner?

5. Which Greek ruler’s reign is usually considered to be predicted in the book of Daniel?

6. What prophet was ordained before birth to be God’s messenger?

7. Which king of Judah had his birth and reign foretold to King Jeroboam?

8. Which psalms, usually assumed to have been written by David, talks about God knowing him before his birth?

9. Who foretold Jesus’ birth and ministry to Mary?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Eutychus (Acts 20:9–10) Aeneas (Acts 9:33–34) Lystra (Acts 14:8–10) Elymas (Acts 13:8–11) Malta (Acts 28:8–9) An earthquake (Acts 16:25–33) They received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17) 8 His shadow (Acts 5:15–16) 9 They spoke in tongues and proclaimed the gospel (Acts 9:1–7) 10 A viper (Acts 28:3–6)

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The ABC of becoming a Christian

26 May 2016

Admit that you are in

need of someone to save you from guilt, shame and bondage or addictions.

Admit that you have violated God’s Laws.

Believe that Jesus Christ is the

only One whois able to save you and to bring deliverence and offer forgiveness of sins. Believe that Jesus is the only One to conquer death and is the risen Saviour.

Confess with your

mouth that Jesus is your Lord and submit to His rulership in your life.